Obama meets with Putin in Paris
President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Syria and Ukraine Monday during a meeting on the sidelines of the climate talks in Paris, a White House official said.
Obama “expressed his regret for the recent loss of a Russian pilot and crew member” and reiterated a call for deescalation after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet earlier this month, according to the official.
{mosads}The downing of the warplane last week, which Turkey said was due to the Russian airplane entering its airspace from Syria, sharpened divisions over the situation in Syria and came as the U.S. and France weigh working with Russia in Syria to defeat Islamic militants who claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris.
Obama on Monday stressed the importance of going after the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and not moderate Syrian rebels, the official said. Obama has blasted Russian airstrikes for not being focused on ISIS.
Obama told Putin that the U.S. remains committed to a political transition in Syria that would result in Bashar Assad, an ally of Russia, leaving power, according to the White House official.
The White House has long held that position, which has been at odds with Russia’s support for Assad.
The pair also discussed finding a diplomatic solution to the situation in eastern Ukraine, with Obama pushing for an implementation of Russia’s obligations under the Minsk agreements, the White House official said.